Resetting windows 8.1

[SkippyTheSnake]

My laptop began having some problems so I am going to return it as it is still under warranty. Before I do so I wanted to clear all data off of it so I headed over to the settings and selected the "remove everything and re-install windows" option. A small window opens and it loads for a while before telling me: "There was a problem while resetting your PC". I have searched online and can't find a solution.
I am using an Asus touchscreen vivobook with an i3, 4GB of ram and 500GB storage. Here is the amazon link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/VivoBook-S200E-CT216H-11-6-inch-Processor-Touchscreen/dp/B00B2HMMDS

If anyone knows how to resolve this problem or another way to clear my data I would appreciate it.

[Lingrah]

You need to have the windows 8 CD/USB to do that.  You can just go to the C:// and delete every file except windows but i don't recommend doing that.

[Lingrah]

If you have the install disk this is how: Go to computer> right clack your hard drive> format.  THIS WILL REMOVE EVERYTHING FROM YOUR HARD DRIVE AND IS PERMANENT!!!!! BE CAREFUL!  Then Reinstall windows.

[SkippyTheSnake]

If you have the install disk this is how: Go to computer> right clack your hard drive> format.  THIS WILL REMOVE EVERYTHING FROM YOUR HARD DRIVE AND IS PERMANENT!!!!! BE CAREFUL!  Then Reinstall windows.

I'm sure you can do it without the disk, I reset it like this when I first got it because it had a default user set up on it.

[Lingrah]

I'm sure you can do it without the disk, I reset it like this when I first got it because it had a default user set up on it.

You can manually remove everything but windows (for some reason) doesn't allow that to be automated. 

[Altecice]

If you have the install disk this is how: Go to computer> right clack your hard drive> format.  THIS WILL REMOVE EVERYTHING FROM YOUR HARD DRIVE AND IS PERMANENT!!!!! BE CAREFUL!  Then Reinstall windows.

 

That wont work, You cant format the system drive.

 

You can manually remove everything but windows (for some reason) doesn't allow that to be automated. 

 

Windows does allow automation. From windows XP onwards you could use the sysprep tool to put windows into OOBE mode. This is how OEM's ship there preconfigured OS's to you.

 

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What the OP can do is allow windows to do a refresh, but they will need an image of their version of windows (on disk/USB)

[TheInverseKey]

Try and go to the recovery partition and reset computer. If that doesn't work then the partition is corrupted. You can burn an ISO disk of windows 8 and wipe the computer that way. 

[SkippyTheSnake]

I would try some of these but I wouldn't want to void the warranty, instead I think i'll just make sure I've deleted all of my files.